Apple iOS 7 Problems: How To Fix The iMessage Bug Right Now Before The Release Of iOS 7.0.3

Since the public release of iOS 7, many iPhone and iPad users have been experiencing a glitch in the iMessage app, which has involved iMessages failing to be sent or received. On Tuesday night, Apple finally addressed the iMessage issue, saying a fix will be coming soon.

“We are aware of an issue that affects a fraction of a percent of our iMessage users, and we will have a fix available in an upcoming software update,” Apple said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal. “In the meantime, we encourage any users having problems to reference our troubleshooting documents or contact AppleCare to help resolve their issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes impacted users.”

While Apple has acknowledged occasional iMessage outages in the past, this particular bug appears to affect users for several days, which suggests this might be more than just a service issue. Anecdotally, a number of iOS 7 users have said iMessage problems worsened after the release of the second iOS 7 update, iOS 7.0.2, on Sept. 26.

Apple will likely release a sweeping fix for this iMessage outage bug in the near future, as the Cupertino, Calif.-based company has already begun seeding the third iOS 7 update (iOS 7.0.3) to a number of employees and carrier partners, according to BGR. But since iOS 7.0.3 may not release for another week or so, there are two ways iOS 7 users can try to fix their iMessage problems before the release of iOS 7.0.3.

The first solution to the iMessage bug involves turning off iMessage and resetting the network settings before re-enabling iMessage again. Here’s how to do it: Visit the Settings app in iOS 7, and click on “Messages.” Turn off iMessage. Then, go back into iOS 7 Settings, and visit the “General” section and click “Reset.” Now, visit Settings one more time, go back into the “Messages” section and toggle on “iMessage” again. Unfortunately, this procedure will make your iPhone or iPad forget its previously entered Wi-Fi passwords, but it’s worth entering again just to have iMessage functioning properly. MacRumors said this procedure has fixed iMessage issues on a number of its devices.

There is another, simpler solution to the iMessage bug: Try turning the iPhone or iPad off, and then on again. If iMessage is still unavailable, your particular iMessage problem must have to do with the software. It may not be worth redownloading and re-installing iOS 7, since the iMessage bug may not cut you off from text messaging altogether – many users say their app is falling back to traditional SMS messages – and Apple is promising to release a fix in the near future.

Apple iOS 7 is compatible with the iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5c and 5s, the iPad 2, 3 and 4, and the fifth-generation iPod Touch. For more on the iOS 7 release, check out our list of 21 features shown in photos, and learn the 15 ways to improve battery life on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 7.

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